Moonlight split open the stomach of the giant, and came out alive
and unhurt, like the brilliant, spotless moon coming out from a
black cloud.

When he saw that she was saved, the king cried: "Come, come to
me!" and ran forward and embraced her. And he asked her: "What
does it mean, dearest? Is this a dream, or an illusion?" And the
fairy answered: "My dear, listen to me. It is not a dream, nor an
illusion. My father, the king of the fairies, laid this curse upon me.
My father had many sons, but he loved me so that he could not eat
without me. And I used to come to this deserted spot twice a
month to worship Shiva.

"One day I came here and it happened that I spent the whole day in
worship. That day my father waited for me and would not eat or
drink anything, though he was hungry and angry with me. At night
I stood before him with downcast eyes, for I had done wrong. And
he forgot his love and cursed me--so strong is fate. Because you
have despised me and left me hungry a whole day, a giant named
Terror-of-Fate will swallow you four times a month when you
leave the city. And each time you will split him open and come
out. And you shall not remember the curse afterwards, nor the pain
of being swallowed alive. And you must live here alone.'

"But when I begged him, he thought awhile and softened his curse.
When Glory-banner, King of the Angas, shall become your
husband, and shall see you swallowed by the giant, and shall kill
the giant, then the curse shall end, and you shall remember all your
magic arts.' Then he left me here, and went with his people to the
Nishadha mountain. But I stayed here because of the curse. And